Journalists challenged to fight terrorist propaganda with reportage

The role of journalists in covering acts of terror has made them high risk targets for terrorists.

Some are kidnapped and killed to enable the terror groups gain global attention. 

At a media forum on Friday – part of activities for the 2014 CNN Multi Choice African Journalist Award, Media Owners, Editors and Journalists debated the role of the media in covering issues of terrorism.

Speaking on the topic “Does social media and mainstream media coverage feed or fight international terror groups?" panellists from Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania and the U.S. whose countries have experienced terrorism first-hand thoroughly debated the issue at stake.

Nigerian Journalist Festus Irie rejected suggestions that the media promotes terrorist groups such as Boko Haram.

“Terror is not going to disappear if you report it [or] not… I don't think that people are entertained. People are repulsed by it [the beheadings, when Boko Haram goes into a village and slaughters people] so while it is true that the terror groups project their propaganda through the social media they also push out things that don't encourage people to identify with them…”

However the panel agreed that terrorist groups like Boko Haram, Al Shabab and Islamic State have changed the dynamics by using their own social media platforms and the internet to disseminate their ideas.

As a result journalists have become high risk targets in their quest to report terror stories.  

The beheading of American and British journalists by Islamic State Militants in Syria easily comes to mind. CNN International Senior Vice President Deborah Rayner indicated that the mainstream media can fight terrorism by “fight[ing] propaganda with truth...the journalist job is more dangerous but more important than ever…it is important to report responsibly on our enemy…”

There was however a consensus that more training is needed for journalists who report on terrorism in order to reduce their risk.

The forum brought together media experts and journalists to discuss trending issues in the African media.

The awards event is the 19 th in the series.
Since 2004 the event has been a collaboration between CNN and Multi Choice Africa to recognise excellence in African Journalism.

There are 28 finalists from 48 English, French and Portugese speaking countries.

There is no Ghanaian nominee this year, even though Multimedia's Anny Osabutey and Gifty Andoh-Appiah have won awards in previous award ceremonies.